Included in the bill is a provision that would make U.S. Army surplus 1911 .45 ACP pistols available to the American public through the Civilian Marksmanship program (CMP).

In November of 2015, then-President Obama signed the NDAA for Fiscal year 2016 into law with language that authorized the Secretary of Defense to transfer 1911s no longer in service to the CMP for public sale. That language made the transfers subject to the Secretary’s discretion and capped them at 10,000 per year. Unsurprisingly, no actual transfers were made under the program while Obama remained in the White House.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

If you would like to see 1911 sales return to the CMP, please contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and urge them to keep the House language on this matter intact in the final bill they send to the president. You can contact Senators and Representative at 202-225-3121.

This year’s language, however, would effectively make the transfers mandatory and would remove the yearly cap. Currently, the military has some 100,000 excess 1911s sitting in storage at taxpayer expense. Transfer of these historically-significant firearms would ease a burden on the government’s heavily indebted balance sheet and help preserve important artifacts from the era when the U.S. military defended Western Civilization from worldwide fascism and aggressive Communist expansion.

The CMP’s sales of 1911s would be treated as other retail sales under the federal Gun Control Act, including the attendant background checks and point of sale record keeping. The design of the pistols dates back to the late 19th Century, and they come equipped with a seven-round magazine. One would think this would render the sales harmless in the eyes of the “reasonable gun safety regulation” crowd, but we’re not holding our breath.

The NRA thanks House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) for their steadfast support of this important provision.

Upon completion of the Senate NDAA, the House and Senate will convene a conference committee to resolve the differences in their bills. If you would like to see 1911 sales return to the CMP, please contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and urge them to keep the House language on this matter intact in the final bill they send to the president. You can contact Senators and Representative at 202-225-3121.

About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org

42 thoughts on “CMP Sales of 1911s One Step Closer With House Passage”

The commenters who believe that CMP will sell these cherished pistols for what the market will bear is sadly correct, because there is already historical precedence for them to do so. That said, we must all remember that CMP is greatly funded by the sale of these arms, that help provide marksmanship training for many thousands of Americans, as well as hold matches for enthusiasts. It just is what it is. Operations cost money.

I’d like to own one of these but being on a fixed (low, very low lol) disabled permanently income I’m sure i can’t afford one anyways. However that doesn’t mean that those that can afford one shouldn’t be allowed to get one. The CA gov’t is such a corrupt, angry and absolute mess that I’m shocked we even have the right to even own a gun in Los Angeles county. Everything these politicians do is against what true Americans want. It’s amazing how every person I talk with, regularly has no problem with gun owners but for some reason these bills keep getting passed. Why, because people like Gavin Newsome right a proposition and then sneak into the prop this thing called “fine print” has anti gun wording that people who don’t take the time to actually study these props don’t know what they’re voting for. Its a joke here in CA. I wish I could afford to move from this state before I have a heart attack or something but my wife and I just can’t do it. I lost my home, business and every toy I worked my life for because of the wonderful market crash in ’08 along with a 6 year long battle with my now ex-wife. She had nothing when we meet and now she’s got my business, a new house and most of my 401k plan. I do own land in Utah but will never get to build on it like planned. Life isn’t always fair but I wake up smiling every day because I get to wake up still. Hope Trump can save CA from these anti gun grabbing idiots who’s rather hold there boyfriends Dick and never a handle of a gun. Newsome and other dems need to go starting from Brown on down.

I do know that Brownell’s has been doing the re-work / gunsmithing on the Springfield and M1 Garands at the CMP weapons house at Camp Perry, Ohio and it is probably the same for any of the other CMP operations that receive these weapons. They are gone over by qualified gunsmith and brought up to safety standards for sale to the public and I also feel they will be sold for a FAIR price.

We have to take into account that the overhead cost of a gunsmith reworking an old firearm and adding new parts where necessary, it will cost us. Then again they may do a quick check over, grab them out of the case and sell them as is for a lesser cost? Either way, we are going to pay, again.

Just a little info . The former dcm sold
1911 for 15.00 let’s Take the year
1958 in today’s dollars that would be
$495.00 today. You can buy a basic
New 1911 for that today . I have heard
The 1000. Amount don’t know where
That started but I think we will have to
Wait to see where this is going.getting
A part of history is nice but I am sure
The market will prevail

As a 1911 fan, I would like to have one of these old warhorses (I understand many probably were never fired in anger or carried in battle) but would be hard to justify given my current stable of 1911 and 1911 pattern pistols. CMP will probably rebuild many and grade/price them accordingly but I don’t expect any bargains. More interested in the NOS spare parts to be offered, if any, but prices probably will exceed what is available on the civilian market there too..,
For those interested the Communications Page at the CMP website allows you to submit your email to be notified of sales updates

Trouble with the CMP is the junk will make it to US-The good stuff will be picked over thoroughly long before we get a chance at it ,,Much will be on the Auction block where millionaire businessman can bit it to unbelievable prices like they did with the M-40 sniper rifles and Winchester carbines ! the other thing they do is put stuff up for sale at 9AM at cheep prices and let the dealers fill there basket to the max out credit card ! all gone when you get home from work !

Carried one as an Army MP. first time I qualified the pistol didn’t have a front sight, brought it to the attention of the range NCO and he said to aim center of mass. fired expert. The thing rattled like crazy and every weapon I carried did to. I finally bought a new one and the first thing I did was shake it. Really tight. These pistols are a piece of history just like the other firearms CMP sells..

Most of these 1911s will have been used – heavily! – for many decades, and probably will have been rebuilt multiple times. If you want one as a piece of history, that’s fine – there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you want one as a shooter, the odds are you’ll probably be able to buy a currently manufactured 1911 that will be more accurate and run better for the same price (or less!) as a CMP .45. (I’ll be astonished if there will be “bargains” to be had.)

Still, having said that, I wish I could get the actual Ithaca-manufactured 1911 my Dad carried during WWII when he was an Air Commando . . . but the serial number of that one is lost to history.

I believe you put it perfectly. There will be no bargains, no $200 guns. If you want a piece of history and are willing to pay the price that’s what you’re going to get. That said, they’ll most likely be refurbished the same as the CMP M1’s, same grades.

I think every veteran who would want one should be given front of the line status and the purchase price should be
reasonable. I have one 1911 Army, but it is mounted as a display piece, so I do not shoot it. Would be nice to have one range ready.

You are so right Roger. I carried one every time I was on the Quarter-deck standing watch on two different US Navy Ships that are scrapped now: USS ORION as-18 & USS CONWAY DD-507. Standing between intruders and the entrance to the ship & it’s crew, who better than a man who stood in harms-way should be given 1st change & front of the line status to buy one of those 1911’s, and the purchase price should be
reasonable.
I had the serial # in my head of that sidearm back from 1968 to 1975 but it has faded from my mind (over 42 years ago)!

I think every veteran who would want one should be given front of the line status and the purchase price should be
reasonable.

If past actions are any indication, they will be graded and sold via an AUCTION process. Since I have seen buyers bid each other to the moon, expect more like $ 2,500 or more for a nice one. Also, the “nice ones” will be transferred to select people through the office that will control these items Rock Island Arsenal. NO… not the phony commercial logo but the real military one in Moline Illinois.. So boys do not get your hopes up too high. Also those who think they will be able to purchase the few that may have matching numbers…. LOTS OF LUCK. They will be selected out of the batch.

I have an ample amount of 1911’s from Colt, Seg, Ruger, and others but would love to get a couple more @ a $200. Range. Put some quality parts in & see what I can realize from results. Don’t need but would like more.

Back in post-WWII era and into the mid-1960’s the country had a ready supply of surplus arms of varying degrees of historical and collectible interest and value coming onto the country from all over the world. Those days are gone since the GCA ’68 and kitchen table gun tinkerers ruined many a “cheap” 1911 beyond repair. Now, we may have another opportunity to purchase historical U.S. martial pistols and there are STILL people out there that would take them right out of the box and onto the kitchen table to “improve” them,,,

I’d worry more about slide/frame sloppiness from wear but if the CMP is true to form they will rebuild many of these pistols to fit into one of the different “grades” they will offer. Any Army issue 1911 at $200.00 is probably a pipe dream even for the “bargain basement” wall hangers.

Having purchased several M1’s, Carbine 30 cal, 1903 Springfield 30-06, and a colt .45 many years ago always found fair price for a weapon. In passing years moved some along. I would to plan order immediately for best condition .45 as soon as legal to do so.

I’m sorry to say that the old days when you could purchase a military surplus firearm through the DCM program at a cheap price are over. For the past several years the CMP has been selling firearms at a price that you could buy them for on the open market. The ammo they sell is actually more expensive than you can find it elsewhere.
I’m ecstatic that these 1911s will be sold and not destroyed but don’t be surprised if the price is $800 or more.

@NRA Jim, You are partially right. The price has gone up, but only because the purchase value of the dollars has gone down. The DCM price in today’s dollars would be about the same. Not being pegged to gold, the dollar is worth what the market and POTUS say it is worth. Remember, Barry Soetoro devalued the dollar by half so that he would pay the Chinese back in dollars that could only purchase half as much.

My two sons and I would jump at the chance to get original 1911’s. My oldest just bought a $400.00 1911 and would toss it in a minute if he could land an original, no matter what the cosmetics were as long as it shoots. My youngest son is like me, a bit more fussy.

What many citizens forget is that WE, The People already bought, paid for the maintenance and refurbishment of these 1911’s from cradle to grave with OUR TAX MONEY! Unless the military got a loan at some off shore bank to purchase them originally?

“….from the era when the U.S. military defended Western Civilization from worldwide fascism and aggressive Communist expansion.
When was that? They sure have done a lousy job since the US itself is fascist in many aspects and all 10 planks of the communist manifesto are in force and effect in the land of the so called free and home of the slaves. I’m sure I’ll get flack for this by all those people who are staunch believers in American exceptionalism. After all, WE are the good guys. RIGHT? WRONG. And no, I’m not packing my bags and moving somewhere else. I’m going to fight to my dying breath to get back what has been squandered away through the Federal Reserve (5th plank, communist manifesto) , property taxes on homes (1st plank of the communist manifesto), a graduated “income” tax (2nd plank of the communist manifesto) and the lousy government school systems. (10th plank of the communist manifesto) Go do some research and cry in your beer when you find out we have been slowly but surely led down the path to “soft” communism. Soft, because I can write this, at lea
st today, without the US KGB coming down on me.

but they very likely know who you are and where you live. “for later”.

But you are correct.. I wish things like Communist Manifesto, Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, and a few of Karl Marx’ works were discussed in high school “civics” classes. That would be far more useful than some of what is currently “taught” in those tax-funded institutions of higher, er, squanderd, learning, er, indoctrination and programming. Far more useful than putting condoms on bananas, and carefully and thoroughly instructing them on the details of ever sexual perversion out there…..

It well be interesting to know what people well pay for beat up well used 1911s when there are new commercial 1911s out there in the 400.00 range.
If one has to go through all the trouble of a FFL why not just buy a new one.
Used military should be in the 200.00 dollar range

Just like with the Garands, they come in a wide range of condition. Some are near new, never issued, pristine. Others are, well hashed together rack grade units that are safe and not much more. But then, new barrels aren’t that much, are they?

Duane, you are kidding yourself if you think they will be $200.00, people would pay $1,000 for a real one in very nice shape. People will buy all they can, and sell the ones they do otlike for profit to people who will be unable to buy from CMP